A Solicitation Letter

Like many American youths, I had summer jobs before graduating from high school.
I missed out on some of the more typical of the day,
such as bussing tables, stocking groceries, and pumping gas.
I did mow one lawn (other than our family's) . . . one time.

Instead, I worked as a "counselor" at a camp for younger kids,
as a maintenance man at a private college,
and as a supervisor on a detasseling crew.
(You might have to look that last one up.)

However, most memorable was my year-round after-school job
giving private lessons on low brass instruments.
(Along the way, I also had one trumpet student,
a red-headed girl who was interested in more than just trumpet.)

Things to notice:
  • This letter was produced on a manual typewriter.
  • It was reproduced on a mimeograph machine.
  • We did have zip codes back then!
  • The fee was only two dollars per lesson.
    		•

    ~ FURTHER READING ~

    Two dollars per half hour might not seem like much,
    but it's $4.00 per hour, (check my math,)
    and in 1976, minimum wage was only
    $2.30.